Useful Websites & Resources for IELTS

This page contains useful links to the best IELTS websites to help you develop your IELTS skills, IELTS information and tips as well as English language. These websites cover both the Academic and General Training IELTS tests with useful resources to help you practice at home.

IELTS Official Websites

• The Official IELTS Website
  • http://www.ielts.org/
• British Council Website for IELTS (the BC is one of the three owners of IELTS)
  • https://ielts.britishcouncil.org/
• IDP Website for IELTS (IDP is one of the three owners of IELTS)
  • http://www.idp.com

Find an IELTS Test Center & Application

• Find a Test Center near You
• IELTS Test Dates
• IELTS Application Form
• Application information

Free IELTS Practice Tests Online

Authentic papers published by IELTS.

• IELTS Listening Practice Test
• IELTS Reading Practice Test: Academic
• IELTS Reading Practice Test: General Training
• IELTS Writing Practice Test: Academic
• IELTS Writing Practice Test: General Training

IELTS Band Score Descriptors 

These are the assessment criteria for IELTS writing (both academic and general training) and speaking. Each marking criterion is explained for each band score. These public band scores are published by IELTS to help you understand the requirements of each band score and to learn how you are assessed by the examiner.

• IELTS Band Scores Explained (listening, reading, writing and speaking)
• IELTS Speaking: Public Band Score Descriptors
• IELTS Writing Task 2: Public Band Score Descriptors
  • IELTS Writing Task 2: Band Scores Explained from 5 to 8 with Tips
• IELTS Writing Task 1: Public Band Score Descriptors

IELTS Answer Sheets

It is useful to practice doing a full test using the answer sheets before your test. Remember you get an extra 10 mins for transferring answers in listening but no extra time for transferring answers to the answer sheet in reading.

• IELTS Listening Answer Sheet
• IELTS Reading Answer Sheet
• IELTS Writing Answer Sheet
  • Task 2 Answer Sheet
  • Task 1 Answer Sheet

Other Useful Links

• IELTS Academic Reading Practice: PDFs
  • Matching Headings – Passage 1
  • Summary completion and T/F/NG – Passage 2
  • Matching Paragraph Info & Short Answer Questions – Passage 3
  • Answer Key to all Passages
• Listening and Reading Topics (this may not be IELTS but it will help you improve your skills)
• Listening Topics and Practice (a great website for plenty of  general listening practices (not IELTS) on all different topics at easy, medium and difficult levels)
• Listening Quizzes (good for extra practice)
• Funny Stories: these stories are informal and the vocabulary in them will help you with your speaking
• Spelling Practice (improve your spelling with quizzes for all levels)
• Grammar Practice (great practice exercises to improve most aspects of your English grammar)
• Basic Pronunciation Practice (minimal pairs etc)
• Learn English with the British Council: free exercises for all skils
• BBC World News (good for developing academic reading as well as some listening. Also good to keep up with current world issues)
• The Economist (Science, Business, Economics, News etc)
• The New Scientists (Technology, Science, Environment etc)
• The National Geographic (Animals, Environment, Travel, Photography etc)
• Focus Magazine Online (Science and Technology)
• BBC Radio (Interviews with People)
• Ted.com (Non-Academic Talks from various People)

CHECK YOUR VOCABULARY

 Hi ! Do you know that you should have a certain size of your vocabulary to score 6.0 - 7.0 IELTS ? For example, to score 6.0 IELTS your vocabulary should be somewhere around 5000 - 6500 word families min. Here is an excellent Vocabulary Test  to do a preliminary check-up. 

Vocabulary Test Recognition 1-14k

Vocabulary Test Productive 2k-14k including UWL ( University Word List)

        UPDATES FROM LINGUA LAB CLUB      

Lingua Lab Club is a network of the staff, present and past students , and friends of Lingua Lab.

Learning,Life,Love- To Share And To Be Shared

IELTS  -  SEPTEMBER 2012 

  RECENT  WRITING   TOPICS  

1.    Many countries spend large amounts of money on world sporting events such as the Olympic Games and football World Cup. Instead these monies can be spent on encouraging young children to take up sports at a young age. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

2.   Many governments in the world spend large amounts of money on art which helps to develop quality in people’s life. However, governments should spend money on other things rather than art. Do you agree or dis agree? Give your opinion.

UPDATES FROM LINGUA LAB CLUB

Lingua Lab Club is a network of the staff, present and past students , and friends of Lingua Lab.

Learning,Life,Love- To Share And To Be Shared

IELTS  -  SEPTEMBER 2012 

RECENT SPEAKING TESTS

Speaking test 1

Interview

- What is your name?
- Where do you live?
- What kind of house do you live in?
- What kind of house do you want in the future?
- Do you like meeting new people? Why?
- Where do you usually meet new people?
- During childhood, where did you meet new people?
- How often do you use public transport?
- What do you usually do while using public transport?
- Do you feel disturbed by noises from other passengers?

Cue Card

Describe a product that you want to buy that is made in another country. Please say
- What product is it?
- What country is it made in?
- What are the specifications of the product?
- Why do you want to buy it?

Discussion

- What imported products do people in your country like to buy?
- Why do they buy imported products?
- There are people that prefer a product made in their own country to an imported product. Why?
- How do corporations benefit from global economy?
- Is internet beneficial to these companies?

Speaking test 2

Interview

- What is your home town?
- What was it like in the past to live in your home town?
- How did the situation improve now?
- What do you think about dieting?
- What do you think about healthy food as opposed to fast food?
- Is there a difference between healthy foods in the past and now?

Cue Card

Talk about your leisure time. Please say

- Where do you spend it?
- Whom do you spend it with?
- Do you enjoy spending it this way?

Discussion

- Are young and older generations using their leisure time differently?
- How will people use their leisure time in the next 10 years?

Nowadays in many countries the proportion of older people is higher than that of younger people. Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?